Heating system



Feb; 11, 1936. o. A. ROSS ,030,5

HEATING sYsTEM Original Filed Nov. 15-, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

INVENTOR Feb. 11, 1936.

- 0. A. Ross ,030,544

HEATING SYSTEM Original Filed Nov. '15; 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORPatented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Original applicationNovember 15, 1927, Serial No.

233,482. Divided and this application December 17, 1934, Serial No.757,790

27 Claims. (01. 231-9) This invention relates to heating systems andmore particularly to major heating systems employed in large buildingswherein extensive radiation is installed.

One object of this invention is to furnish a inajor heating systemwherein a number of comparatively small buildings, or a number ofsections of a large building may have steam, or other heating fluid,supplied thereto in sequential order, in this manner reducing the maxisupply of steam, generally termed maximum demand to a comparativelysmall amount, as compared to the maximum demand required if all thesmall buildings, or sections of the large building were supplied withthe steam simultaneously.

. Another object is to furnish a heating system wherein the aforesaidsequential supply of steam will be effected automatically as well as inaccord with the outside temperature whereby the buildings, or sections,will be uniformly heated irrespective of variations of said outsidetemperature.

Another object is to furnish a heating system for comparatively highbuildings wherein the steam supplied to the system is up-fed at acomparatively high pressure to the point of dis-' tribution andthereafter reduced in pressure for supply to the heat radiators, in thismanner permitting the use of comparatively small risers and reducing theloss by condensation therein.

Another objectis to furnish novel forms of apparatus for accomplishingthe results attained.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of theinvention progresses and the novel features thereof will be pointed outin the appended claims.

The invention consists in such novel features, arrangements,combinations of parts and methods as are described in connection withthe apparatus herein disclosed by way of example only. The novel methodsare disclosed and claimed in r my copending divisional application Ser.No.

233,482, filed November 15, 1927. Other features,

embodiments and combinations of the apparatus hereinafter disclosed arealso disclosed and claimed in my copending application Ser. No.

515,761, filed February 14, 1931, comprising a n continuation of my.application Ser. No. 56,283,

filed September 14, 1925. a

is had to the accompanying drawings, illustrat- 53 like characters ofreference designate corre In describing the invention in detail,referenceing embodiments of'the invention, and wherein sponding partsthroughout the several views, and in which:--

Figure l is a diagrammatic view or one form of heating system applied toa building; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the appa- 5ratus associated therewith; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of another partof said apparatus; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of still another partof the apparatus and Fig. 5 is a modified form of heating system showndiagrammatically. 10

Referring to Fig. 1, the building I is divided into three heatedsections, 2, 3, and 4, each section having rooms a, b, and c suppliedwith a radiator 5, having thermally controlled outlet valve 6. room 20.being preferably supplied with 15 a hot water radiator 8 receiving hotwater from boiler 30 through riser 8a and discharging said. waterthrough return 8b. The radiators 5 in section 2 are fed by riser 9,those of section 3 by riser Ill and those of section 4 by riser II. The20 condensation from said radiators is returned from section 2 by returnl2, from section 3, by return I3 and from section 4 by return l4, saidrisers and returns being connected to sequential distributing unit l5,each return having a trap 25 I6 at the discharge end thereof. Eachheated section 2, 3, and 4, forms a subsidiary heating system of themajor system supplying heat to building I.

Steam is assumed to be supplied from a public 30 utility service main I!through pipe l8 and thence to valve l9, meter 20, reducing valve 2|,automatic cutout 22, and valve 23 to sequential distributing unit l 5.The condensation from returns IZ, l3, and M passes through traps l6 unit35 I5 and pipe 25 to pump 26 of known form for removing air, or vapors,thence through pipe 21, pressure check'valve 28, heating, coil 29 ofboiler 30, pipe 3|, having pressure check valve 32, water meter 32a andthence to sewer 33. 40

Hot water heater 30 receives water from service main 34 and distributeshot water to faucets 1 through risers 35.

Traps I6 have a common air and vapor withdrawal line 36 connected to thevacuum end of the air discharge section of pump 26, the air beingdischarged to sewer 33 through pipe 31.

Over-heat thermostats 38 in sections 2, 3, and 4, are connected inmultiple and arranged to energize automatic cut-oil valve 22 for cuttingofi the steam supply upon any abnormal heating of said sections, aswitch 39 manually controlling the flow of energy to wires 40, M, and 42of the circuit controlling said valve. 7

Refening to Figs. 2 and 4, showing sequential distributing unit I5 inmore detail, motor 45 drives worm 46 engaging gear 41, mounted on shaft48, also secured to which are distributor cams 2s, 3s, and 4s and returncams 21', 31', and 41'. The cam faces 49 of cams 2s, 3s, and 4s areadapted to depressvalve stems 50 thereby opening supply valves 2sv,-3sv,and 481). The cam faces 5| of cams 21', 31', and 4r are adapted to de-rpress valve stems 52 thereby opening return valves 2rv, 31v, and 4m.Valve stems 52 each support a contact spring 53 adapted to contact withcontact 54 and establish the pump motor circuit as follows: frompositive energy to switch 59, wire 550', motor 55, wire 56, pipe 25, acontact 53 in lowered position, contact 54, wire 51 and switch 59 tonegative energy.

Referring to Fig. 4, gear wheel 41 preferably formed of insulatingmaterial, supports contact sector 62 substantially encircling the sidethereof, the contact springs 63 and 64 bearing thereon, a sector space65 being provided sufficient to permit the opening of the circuit tomotor 45 when spring 64 enters. such space.

Located in the outside atmosphere, preferably on top of building I, isthermostatic device 10, more fully described in my said co-pendingapplication Serial No. 515,761, filed February 14, 1931, the rheostatarm 1I lowering to cut out resistance 13 upon the lowering of theoutside temperature and raising/Wadd resistance upon the increase ofsaid outside temperature. Said device controls the thermostat controlcircuit as follows: from positive energy to wire 15, arm

H, a contact 12, resistance 13, wire 16,-night switch 11, wire 18, motor14, to negative energy through wire 19, in this manner varying the speed.of motor 14 proportionately to the variation of the outsidetemperature. Motorr14 drives worm 83, rotating contact drum 84,supporting contact 85, adapted to momentarily bridge contact springs 86and 81.

Motor 45 rotates cams 2s, 3s, 4s and 2r, 3r, and 41' through one heatingcycle by establishment of the heat supply circuit as follows: frompositive energy to wire 66, contact spring 63, contact 62, contactspring 64, wires 61, 68, motor 45 and wire 69 to negative energy. Aftergear 41 has completed a revolution in the direction shown by the arrow,contact spring 63 will enter space 65 thereby opening said circuit andmotor 45 will stop. The relation of the space 65 and the va-' rious camsis such that motor 45 stops just after cam 4s. has permitted valve 4stto close and before valve 2sv is again opened. Likewise cam 41' permitsthe closing of valve 4m and said motor stops before valve 211) is againopened. After motor 45 has stopped, no flow of steam to, or flow ofcondensation from the system occurs and said motor remains stopped untilcontact 85 again bridges contact springs 86 and 81, wh reupon thefrequency circuit is established as lows: from positive eneiigy to wire90, contact spring 86, contact 85, contact spring 81, wires 9|, 68,

atmosphere the uppermost contact 12 to open the circuit to motor 14. Iffor any reason the arm should move onto said contact and motor 14 shouldstop with contact 85 bridging both springs 86 and 81, mo tor 45 wouldcontinue to operate for producing minimum heating- To avoid thisunnecessary operation a contact spring 95 is arranged to engage contact85 simultaneously with contact 86 whereby the clearing circuit isestablished as follows: from positive energy to wire 90, contact spring86, contact 85, contact spring 95, wires 96 and 18 to motor 14 andthence through wire 19 to negative energy. With this circuit establishedmotor 14 operates until contact 85 has moved away from contact spring86, in this manner also cutting off energy to motor 45 through contactspring 81.

Referring to Fig. 3, trap I6 comprises tank I provided with cap I0|supporting corrugated diaphragm I02, the interior of which communicateswith passageway I03 and pipe 36. This trap also includes check valve I04constrained to seat by spring I permitting vacuum pipe 36 to withdrawair and vapors from the heating system through chamber I06 of tank I00,at the same time creating a partial vacuum within diaphragm I02, wherebyfloat I01, and valve I08 secured thereto and to said diaphragm, will beraised to empty trap I 6. Valve I08 is biased in both extreme upper andlower positions by weight I09 secured to one arm of bell crank IIO, theother arm of which is pivoted to float I01. The chamber containingdiaphragm I02 is open to atmos-- phere through opening III.

The operation of the trap is as follows: during the off heating periodof a section, as for example section 2, practically all the condensationcollects in tank I 00. As cam 21" acts to open valve 21' and also startspump 26, the vacuum produced by said pump causes a partial vacuum in thediaphragm I02, also raises valve I04 and creates a partial vacuum in thepipe lines and radiators of section 2, it being assumed that theradiators '5 have cooled sufficiently to open valves 6. As tank I00 willcontain considerable condensation, the combined efforts of float I01 anddiaphragm I02 will cause valve I08 to rise whereupon said -condensationwill flow to pump 26 and thence to heating coil 29 of hot water heater30, said pump causes all air and vapors to be discharged to sewer 33"and thewater to said heater and thence to the sewer. \After tank I00has been emptied and pump 26 stopped, the air leakage back through saidpump will nullify the vacuum in pipe 36 and diaphragm I02, thereby againpermitting valve I 08 to seat and. seal'the return line preparatory tothe next heating cycle and the accumulation of the resultingcondensation produced thereby.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the operation of the system disclosedthereby is as follows: assume the outside temperature surroundingbuilding I to be approximately 40 degrees under which condition the arm1I will be in contact with the 40 degreecontact as shown, therebyestablishing the "frequency circuit whereby motor 14 rotates contact 8 5to establish the heat supply circuit to motor 45 at a frequency wherebythe resulting heat supply periods will be rendered at sufliciently closeintervals to adequately heat building I with an exterior temperature ofapproximately 40 degrees. 7

After contact 85 has establised the"heat supply circuit and before gear41 has rotated to again open said circuit as heretofore described,contact 85 will have moved sufficiently to have opened said' circuitbetween contact springs 86 and 81, and as space 65 of gear 41 passesunder contact spring 64, motor 45 will stop in a manner to maintain allthe supply valves 21', 31', and 41' closed until contact 85 againbridges contact springs 86 and 81.

If the outside temperature reaches 70 degrees or higher, and at whichtime no artificial heat is required in building I, the arm II moves tothe 70 degree contact whereupon the energy to motor I4 is cancelled bydevice I0, thereby also stopping the motor 45 indefinitely.

If the outside temperature falls to 10 degrees, arm II moves to the 10degree contact 12 whereupon motor 14 operates at maximum speed therebyproducing a maximum number of heating cycles by increasing the frequencythereof.

During each heating cycle produced by establishing the heat supplycircuit, and as motor 45 starts, cam 2r acts to open valve 2H) and drainsection 2 of all condensation, thereafter the steam from pipe I8 issupplied to the subsidiary heating system of section 2 by action of theraised portion 49 of cam 2s in opening valve 2sv, said valve beingmaintained in open position for a period of. time sufficient to fill allthe radiators in section 2 with steam as well as maintain pressuretherein until the radiator structure has attained a temperaturesubstantially equivalent to that of the steam, whereupon said valve isclosed.

A comparativelyfirall interval of time after valve 2sv has closed, theraised portion 49,0f cam 3s acts to open valve 3sv whereupon steam issupplied to radiators 5 of section 3 and after the subsidiary systemtherein has been filled with steam, said cam portion 49 of cam 43 actsto open valve 4sv whereupon steam is supplied to the subsidiary systemin section 4 and as said last named raised portion 49 acts to closevalve 481;, the space 65 will have passed under contact spring 64 andmotor 45 will be stopped with the raised portion 49 of cam 2s in aposition to again effect the opening of valve Zsv. be noted that thesteam has been supplied to the sections 2, 3, and 4, in sequential orderduring each heating cycle. I

Substantially simultaneously with the opening of valve 281:, asdescribed. the raised portion 5| of cam 2r will have passed away fromvalve stem 52 of. valve 2n; thereby closing said valve. As described,when valve stem 52 is lowered and contact spring 53 engages contact 54,the valve 2m is opened and pump 26 is started thereby draining trap I6of condensation as well as establishing a partial vacuum in thesubsidiary system of section 2, and as supply valve 281) opens; steamfrom supply pipe I8 will quickly fill said system, the thermallycontrolled valves 6 preventing the steam from entering the return I2until the condensation thereof is efiected.

A predetermined interval of time before cam 3s acts to-open supply valve3sv, the cam 3r act to open return valvei3rv whereby trap I6 in returnline I3 will be drained of its condensation and a partial vacuum will beestablished in the radiators 5 and risers I of section 3 prior to theopening of supply valve 3sv by cam 3s A similar sequence of operationswill occur in draining condensation from and supplying steam to thesubsidiary heating system of section 4 and thereafter motor 45 will stopuntil another heating cycle is initiated by establishing the heat supplycircuit by contact 85.

From the foregoing it will be noted that by sectionalizing a building asI, for heating purposes,

From the foregoing it will and supplying steam'to a subsidiary heatingsystem in each section sequentially, a comparatively small maximumdemand of the steam is required thereby reducing the yearly maximumdemand charge usually made by the concern supplying said steam.

The number of subsidiary heating systems and the radiation therefore ispreferably proportioned whereby during the coldest weather, and upon thecompletion of a heating cycle, the drum 84 will have made a completerevolution and contact 85 will again establish the "heat supply circuitin thismanner producing a substantially continuous supply of heat tobuilding I, the supply calling for a comparatively low maximum demandfrom the source.

It is to be noted that the subsidiary heating systems of sections 2, 3,and 4, may be employed to heat detached buildings, one of the buildingscontaining the distribution apparatus I and auxiliary devices therefore.

In certain buildings where a comparatively small quantity of hot wateris required, the surplus hot water from boiler 30 may be supplied to ahot water radiator 8 in room a, the cam 23 being adjusted to supply aproportionately lesser quantity of steam to the heating system insection 2.

Whereas pipe 36 connects the vacuum side 0 pump 26 to all the traps I6,the partial vacuum established in 'diaphragms I02 will not be willcientto raise the valve I84 in other than the selected trap in which thecondensation acting on the float will effect the raising of said valve.

Traps I6 are preferably of a capacity whereby substantially all thecondensaiton from their correlated section, as 2, 3 or 4 will returnbefore float I01 will rise with the assistance of diaphragm I82. Thevariable capacity of tanks I 08 as IIlIia therein acting as liquiddisplacers.

If desired a rheostat 68a arranged to be varied by arm 68b insulativelysupported by arm II and arranged to be shunted by switch 680 may beplaced in series with motor 45 whereby said motor is slowed down as theoutside temperature is lowered in this manner effecting comparativelylonger supply periods of the steam to each section during each heatingcycle, such longer supply periods, under certain conditions, beingrequired to compensate for the more rapid cooling of the radiatorsduring colder weather.

Whereas the raised cam faces 49 and SI are shown as of a definitelength. they may be made of variable length as shown in the Patent1,178,170 to Marks, April 4, 1926. Y

The cam faces 49 of supply cams 2s, 3s, and 43 preferably formed wherebythe valves Z81), 3sv, and 43p opened thereby will remain open for aperiod sufiicient to fill all the radiators as well as insuring that theradiator structure will assume a temperature substantially that of thesteamtherein.

The cam faces 5I of return cams 2M), 3M), and 411) are preferably formedwhereby the valves 2m, 3m, and 410 are opened for a period of timesuflicient to drain all the condensation from their correlated traps I6and also permit the forming of a partial vacuum in the returns andradiators whereby rapid filling thereof occurs when the supply valvesare opened.

Whereas the building I has been shown as sectioned in vertical planes.comparatively high oflice buildings, or similar structures arepreferably sectioned in horizontal planes, the steam being supplied tounit I5 at a comparatively high pressure and suitable reducing valvesplaced at the upper end of the risers for reducing the pressure of thesteam as supplied to the radiators 5, this arrangement permitting theuse of comparatively small capacity risers thereby reducing thecondensation therein as well as reducing the cost of installation.

Whereas one return pump as 26 has been shown for controlling all theflow of condensation, a. similar pump may be employed for each section2, 3, and 4, for independently controlling the flow of condensationtherefrom and establishing the partial vacuum therein.

Whereas the steam supply has been shown as a public utility servicemain, a suitable steam boiler may be employed therefore.

Referring to the modified form of heating system shown in Fig. 5, thethirty-six story building 200, having basement 20I, is shown assectioned'in horizontal planes A to J, each section being assumed to contain fourfioors l, 2, 3, and 4, each floor having a heat radiating system 202forming a portion of the subsidiary heating system supplied with lowpressure steam from feeder line 2 l0, said line receiving steam fromhigh pressure riser 203 through reducing valve 204, each system beingdrained by a return 205. I

In this major heating system, the subsidiary heating system of eachsection A to J is preferably supplied with independent condensation andvacuum pumps 26 arranged to establish a partial vacuum in eachsubsidiary system just prior to the supply of the steam thereto.

comparatively high pressure steam from public utility service main I1,or from high pressure boilers, is fed through distributing device 201and through risers 203 to the reducing valves 204, thereby permittingthe use of comparatively small risers and reducing condensation.

The reducing valves 204 form the origin of the low pressure distributionto the subsidiary systems from whence the steam and condensation isdown-fed through feeder line M0 and radiating system. 202 to returns205.

Owing to the larger volume of steam in the longer risers, as 203H and203J, the distributor cams 49 of unit 201, are preferably formed toeffect comparatively shorter time intervals of opening the supply valvesas 2sv, than the similar cams opening similar valves to the risers 203Aand 2033, thereby equalizing the supply of steam by permitting the highpressure steam of the longer risers to expand into the subsidiarysystems through the reducing valves 204.

Steam distributing unit 201, is similar to unit 15, being modified toinclude a larger number of supply and discharge valves, as 2sv and 2mand correlated cams and circuit closers therefor.

A pipe 208 connecting each trap and correlated pump 26 corresponds thepipe 36 commonly connected to all the traps l8 of Fig. l, and a pipe 200commonly connected to all the air outlets of the pumps 26 conveys theair and vapors discharged thereby to the sewer 33.

It will be understood that in the operation of the apparatus, on adecrease in outdoor temperature, more heat is supplied, but upon acorresponding increase in outdoor temperature, substantially acorresponding lesser amount of heat is supplied, and it is in that sensethat the following claims have reference to variations in the heatsupply or heat supply periods in accordance with .variations intheoutside temperature.

While the invention has been described with respect to certainparticular preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding theinvention, that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intendedtherefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications.

I claim: v

1. In a heating system a source of pressured steam, a plurality ofgrouped spaces having radiators therein for heating the spaces, eachgroup being arranged to receive steam from the source, control means forsuccessively apportioning steam from the source to the groups wherebythe groups are supplied with steam in sequential order, and meansaffected by variations in temperature of the atmosphere exterior of thespaces for varying the frequency of operation of the sequential controlmeans.

2. In a heating system, a heat radiating system having normally closedvalves in the supply and return line thereof, a source of pressuredsteam connected to the supply line, normally inactive means for drainingthe condensation from the system and establishing a partial vacuumtherein, a device operating in cycles including means for effectingoperation of the draining and vacuum producing means and opening thereturn valve during the initial portion of a cycle, means for cancellingthe operation of the draining and vacuum producing means and closing thereturn valve during a subsequent portion of the cycle, means for openingthe steam supply valve for filling the system with steam from the sourceduring a subsequent portion of the cycle, means for closing the supplyvalve during the final portion of the cycle, and means for periodicallyeffecting operation of the cyclic device.

3. In a heating system, a heat radiating system having normally closedvalves in the supply and return lines thereof, a source of pressuredsteam connected to the supply line, normally inactive means forestablishing a partial vacuum in the heat radiating system, a deviceoperating in cycles including means for effecting operation of thevacuum producing means and opening the returnvalve during the initialportion of a cycle, means for cancelling the operation of the vacuumproducing means and closing the return valve during a subsequent portionof the cycle, means for opening the steam supply valve for filling thesystem with steam from the source during a subsequent portion of thecycle, means for closing the supply valve during the final portion ofthe cycle, and means forperiodically effecting operation of the cyclicdevice.

4. In a heating system, a heat radiating system having normally closedvalves in the supply and return lines thereof, a source of pressuredsteam connected to the supply line, normally inactive means forestablishing a partial vacuum in the heat radiating system, a deviceoperating in cycles including means for effecting operation ofthe vacuumproducing means and opening the return valve during the initial portionof a cycle, means for cancelling the operation of the vacuum producingmeans and closing the return valve during a subsequent portion of thecycle, means for opening the steam supply valve for filling the systemwith steam from the source during a subsequent portion of the cycle,means for closing the supply valve during the final portion of thecycle, and means for effecting varying periodic operation of the cyclicdevice in response to variations in temperature of outside atmosphere.

5. In a major heating system having a plurality of subsidiary heatradiating systems, normally closed valves in the supply'and return linesof the subsidiary systems, a source of pressured steam arranged to beconnected to the receiving end of the supply lines, normally inactivedevices associated with the subsidiary systems for establishing apartial vacuum therein, devices operating in cycles for each subsidiarysystem including means for effecting operation of the vacuum producingmeans-and opening the return valves during the initial portion of acycle, means for cancelling the operation of the vacuum producing meansand closing the return valves during a subsequent portion of the cycle,means for opening the steam supply valves for filling the system withsteam from the source during ,7

another subsequent portion of the cycle, means for closing the supplyvalves during the final portion of the cycle, and means for successivelyeffecting periodic operation of the cyclic devices.

6. In a major heating system having a plurality of subsidiary heatradiating systems, normally closed valves in the supply and return linesof the subsidiary systems, a source of pressured steam arranged to beconnected to the receiving end of the supply lines, normally inactivedevices associated with the subsidiary systems for establishing apartial vacuum therein, devices operating in cycles for each subsidiarysystem including means for efiecting operation of the vacuum producingmeans and opening the return valves during the initial portion of acycle, means for cancelling the operation of the vacuum producing meansand closing the return valves during a subsequent portion of the cycle,means for opening and closing the steam supply valves for filling thesystem with steam from the source during another subsequent portion ofthe cycle, and means for successively effecting operation of the cyclicdevices at intervals varied in response to variations in temperature ofoutside atmosphere.

'7. In a heat radiating system having a supply line and a return line, asource of pressured steam, means for supplying steam, from the source tothe supply line, a trap in the return line arranged to receivecondensation from the system, a normally closed valve for preventingdischarge of condensation from the trap arranged. to permit dischargethereof upon being opened, time controlled means for periodicallyproducing a partial vacuum in the system and the trap and means forsupplying the steam at time controlled intervals of the same frequencyas the periodic production of the vacuum, and means aflected by thevacuum produced by the vacuum producing means for opening the valve todischarge the condensation therefrom.

8. In a heat radiating system having a supply line andga return line, asource of pressured steam, means for supplying steam from the source tothe supply line, a trap in the return line arranged to receivecondensation from the syspermost portion of the heating system, a lowpressure distribution system connected to the discharge end of the highpressure riser, the distribution system being arranged to downfeed thelow pressure steam to the radiators, a reducing valve connected betweenthe discharge end of the high pressure steam riser and the receiving endof the distribution system for automatically reducing the high pressuresteam to a predetermined low pressure irrespective of variation inpressure of the high pressure source, means for conveying the lowpressure steam and condensation from the radiators to the base of thebuilding, and means for efiecting supply of steam from the source to thehigh pressure riser during time controlled intervals alternately withcancelling the supply thereto during other time controlled intervals.

10. In a heating system for a building having a plurality of storiesheated by steam radiators, a source of high pressured steam at the baseof the building, a high pressure riser extending upwardly from thesource to substantially the uppermost portion of the heating system, alow pressure distribution system connected to the discharge end of thehigh pressure riser, the distribution system being arranged to downfeedthe low pressure steam to the radiators, a reducing valve connectedbetween the discharge end of the high pressure steam riser and thereceiving end of the distribution system for automatically reducing thehigh pressure steam to a predetermined low pressure irrespective ofvariation in pressure of the high pressure source, time control meansfor intermittently supplying steam from the high pressure source to thehigh pressure riser, and thermostatic means responsive to outdoortemperature changes for varying the relative lengths of the intervals ofsteam supply as compared with the spaces between such intervals.

11. In a heat regulating system, a steam heating system, a source ofsteam, means for effecting supply of steam from the source to the systemfor periods alternately with cancelling the supply for other periods,thermostatic means including means for varying the frequencyof the steamsupply periods in accordance with variations in temperature of theoutside atmosphere and means for also varying the duration of the steamsupply periods in accordance with variation in temperature of theoutside atmosphere.

12. In a heat regulation system, a steam heating system, a source ofsteam, means for effecting supply of steam from the source to the systemfor periods alternately with cancelling the supply for other periods,thermostatic means including means for varying the frequency of thesteam supply periods in accordance with variation in temperature of theoutside atmosphere and means for also varying the duration of the steamsupply periods in accordance with variation in temperature of theoutside atmosphere, and means operable at will for eliminating thethermostatic control as to the duration of the supply periods.

tion pump motor for predetermined intervals alternately withdeenergization thereof for other predetermined intervals.

14. In a steam heating system including steam radiators having supplyand return passageways, a source of steam, a pump for producing apartial vacuum in the return passageway, another pump for exhausting thecondensation from the return passageway, means for driving the pumps,means for supplying steam from the source to the supply passageway, timeinterval means operating in cycles, and means responsive thereto forrendering the pump driving means and the steam supply means active forpredetermined periods alternately with cancelling the action thereof forother predetermined periods during each cycle, the active and inactiveperiods of the pump driving means being displaced in time with respectto the active and inactive periods of the steam supply means.

15. In a heating system having supply and return lines, a source ofsteam, means for supplying steam from the source to the system, meansfor producing vacuum in the return line, time interval means operatingin cycles, and means responsive thereto for rendering the vacuumproducing means and the steam supply means active for predeterminedperiods alternately with can celling the action thereof for otherpredetermined periods during each cycle, the active and inactive periodsof the steam supply means being displaced in time with respect to theactive and inactive periods of the vacuum producing means.

16. In a heating system having supply and return lines,'a source ofsteam, means for supplying steam from the source to the system, meansincluding a pump for draining the condensation from the return line,time interval means operating in cycles, and means responsive theretofor rendering the condensation draining means and the steam supply meansactive for predetermined periods alternately with cancelling the actionthereof for other predetermined periods during each cycle, the activeand inactive periods of the steam supply means being displaced in timewith respect to the active and inactive periods of the condensationdraining means.

17. In a heating system having supply and return lines, a source ofsteam, mea s for supplying steam from the source to the sys em, meansfor producing vacuum in the return line, time interval means operatingin cycles, means responsive thereto for rendering the steam supply meansand the vacuum producing means active for predetermined p'eriodsalternately with cancelling the action thereof for other predeterminedperiods during each cycle, the active and inactive periods of the steamsupply means being displaced in time with respect to the active andinactive periods of the vacuum producing means, and thermostatic meansfor varying. the relative lengths of said active and inactive periods ofthe steam supply means'in accordance with variation in temperature ofthe outside atmosphere.

18. In a heating system having supply and re-' .active and inactiveperiods of the condensation draining means, and thermostatic means forvarying the relative lengths of said active and inactive periods of thesteam supply means in accordance with variation in temperature ofoutside atmosphere. I t

' 19. A heating system for large buildings, comprising in combination, aplurality of adjacent risers, valves for each riser, motor actuatedmeans for simultaneously turning on the valves of certain risers andturning off the valves on adjacent risers, and time controlled means foreffecting the operation of said motors according to a predeterminedschedule.

20. A heating system ior large buildings, comprising in combination, aplurality of adjacent risers, valves for each riser, motor actuatedmeans for simultaneously turning on the valves of certain risers andturning off the valves on adjacent risers, time controlled means foreffecting the operation of said motors according to a predeterminedschedule during normal working hours, and means for operating said timecontrolled mechanism on a difierent schedule for non-working hours.

21. A heating system for large buildings, com prising in combination, aplurality of adjacent risers, valves for each riser, motor actuatedmeans for simultaneously turning on the valves of certain risers and.turning ofi the valves on adjacent risers, time controlled means foreffecting the operation of said motors according to a predeterminedschedule, an outdoor thermostat, and means operable thereby for varyingsaid time schedule according to outdoor temperature.

22. In a heating system for large buildings having a plurality ofstories heated by steam radiators, said system including a plurality ofsubsidiary heating systems each comprising a group oi! radiators forserving a particular zone of the structure or structures heated, a locallow pressure steam distribution conduit system for each 01 said groups,a plurality of high pressure steam risers running respectively from saidsource to the inlets of said low pressure distribution conduit systems,reducing valves connected respectively between the discharge ends ofsaid high pressure risers and the inlets of said distribution conduitsystems, and means for intermittently checking the flow of steam fromsaid source to said risers during time controlled intervals alternatelywith the admission of high pressure steam to said risers during othertime controlled intervals.

In a heating ystem for large buildings having a plurality of storiesheated by steam radiators, said system including a plurality ofsubsidiary heating systems each comprising a group of radiators, a lowpressure steam distribution conduit system for each of said groups andhaving a steam inlet positioned at substantially the w o sumacthemhaidiaryayltemofeach ralityoigroupsiorservingrespectivelyvarioushlil prenure steam at the zones oithcstl'ucturestobeheated, conduitsrunssh-am d mama:

nub he!!! the discharge and; a! said high pmess\xge sex-s an i the,amass at the distribution' conduit systems, time controlled means forintermittently checking the supply of steam from said source to saidrisers respectively at interspaced intervals, alternating with intervalsof supply of high pressure steam to the risers, and thermostatic meansresponsive to outdoor temperature changes for varying the relativelengths of the intervals of steam supply as compared with such intervalsof checking of the supply.

24. Regulating apparatus for steam heating systems having radiatorslocated in rooms to be normally maintained at desired substantiallyuniform temperatures while aflected by variations in outdoortemperature, comprising a source of steam, said radiators being divided.into a plurality of groups for serving respectively vs.-

26 rious zones oi'tne structures to be heated, confrom said source toWI, time controlled means for steam from said source for each 0! saidgroups respecmntially inter-spaced intervals, and

means responsive to' outdoor temehanges ior varying the relative lengthsof flsa intervals of steam supply as compared with the moon between suchintervals.

I. Regulating apparatus for steam heating M having radiators located inrooms to be normally maintained at desired substantially uniformtemperatures while affected by variations in outdoor temperature,comprising a source of 40 steam, said radiators being divided into aplu- It in I! i g; It It groups, and means for intermittently supe steamfrom said source to the conduitsioreachoisaidgroupsrespcctivelyatmhstantlello ieuiimii ii'itii llili mms :1 s11 chant frequency to enable substantially cbnt1n uous maintenanceof predetermined temperatures in the structures heated.

26. In a heating system, a source of steam get under pressure, aplurality of grouped spaces having radiators therein for heating thespaces, conduits for conveying steam from said source to the radiatorsof each of said groups respectively, valves in said conduits forcontrolling the flow of steam to each group respectively, and meanscommon to said valves for controlling the operation of the same insequential order to alternately admit and check the flow of steam toeach of said groups, whereby the steam is succ'essively apportioned fromsaid source to the several groups.

27. In a heating system, a. source of steam .under pressure, a pluralityof grouped spaces having radiators therein for heating the spaces,conduits for conveying steam from said source to the radiators of eachof said groups respectively, valves in said conduits for controlling theflow of steam to each group respectively, and time controlled meanscommon to the valves and inter-- mittently controlling the operationthereof, to admit supplies of steam to said groups respectively insuccession, whereby the steam is successively apportioned from thesource to the various groups and steam is supplied to one group duringintervals of interruption of the supply to another group.

OSCAR A. ROSS.

